A COUPLE driving through Ashton were gobsmacked to see their son's car - stolen the night before - in their rear mirror.

They made a snap decision to chase the thieves and tailed the Rover 216 through the town centre.

Adrian Harrison, 50, who was in the car with wife Jennifer, 51, said: "I decided to follow them through Ashton - just keeping up with them, not doing any speeding like Starsky and Hutch!"

Adrian was driving near to his home on Nottingham Drive, Ashton, when he spotted son Wayne's car in his rear mirror turning right into Henrietta Street at about 5pm.

It had been stolen from outside the Army Cadets HQ on Old Street the night before. Wayne, 20 - who lives in Denton - was providing training for cadets when thieves struck.

Adrian followed the stolen car down Oldham Road, it turned left at the swimming baths and stopped outside the Ellison House block of flats.

He got out of his own car and spoke to the driver, who swore at him and ran off - as did his passenger - leaving the keys in the ignition. A gang of five youths were shouting abuse at Adrian from nearby but they ran off after Wayne and friends - who Adrian called on his mobile - turned up.

"My concern was the pair would come back with knives to try and get the car back," he said.

"It was amazing to get my son's car back undamaged and with nothing stolen. He was really worried he would lose his no claims bonus."